I’m a Ashkenazi BT in the US who is leaning more ‘Litvish’ after dabbling in Chassidic seforim. What is a giveaway that a synagogue is more on that side of the spectrum? What should I be reading?

I’m a BT from a mostly secular Ashkenazi background who initially explored some Chassidus seforim and shiurim. While I deeply appreciate their profound insights and emphasis on simcha in avodas Hashem, I find myself naturally drawn to the analytical approach of works of mussar like Mesillas Yesharim by the Ramchal. I’m also intrigued by how figures like the Vilna Gaon balanced this rigorous learning with deep kabbalistic understanding. I’m roughly aware of the timeline although may be missing some nuance but I also find it fascinating how Sephardic mekubalim seem to have a direct approach to Kabbalah without necessarily going through the Chassidic framework and it all just seems to make sense.

(To be clear – I’m not looking to jump into studying Kabbalah, just thinking out loud about different approaches to Torah learning and how they all fit together!)

Looking for:

1. How to identify more Litvish-oriented shuls

2. Recommended seforim/authors

Thanks!